Thieds to john o brien and ephraim e



BEST AVAlLABLE COP (No Model.) 2 SheetS-Sheet 1. D. OBRI EN. LIGHTNINGARRESTER FOR PROTECTING OIL TANKS. No. 367,435.- Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

\l 0 WITNESSES:

INVE NTOR N. PETERS. PmvLM-qnpbor. Wishingwn. 174 C.

BEST AVAILABLE COP (No Model.) 2 Sheets-.Sheet 2.

D. O BRIEN. LIGHTNING ARRESTE R- FOR PROTECTING OIL TANKS.

No, 367,435. Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

N. PETERS. mahm Wanhhtm QC.

UNITED STATES DAVID OBRIEN, OF PHILADELPHIA,

BEST AVAILABLE cop PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or Two" THIRDS TO JOHN OBRIENAND EPHRAIM E. \VEAVER, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

LIGHTNING-ARRESTER FOR PROTECTING" OIL-TANKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 1 atent No. 366,435, dated August2, 1887.

Application filed March 8, 1881'. Serial No. 230,105. (No model.) I

To all whom, it may concern: Beit known that I, DAVID OBRIEN, acitizenof the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the countyoflhiladelphiaand State ofPenn- 5 sylvania, have in'vented'certain newand useful Improvements in Lightning-Arresters for Protecting Oil-Tanks,of which the following is a my balloon is further furnished with ahygrometer for indicating the moisture in the air, and with four or moreguy-ropes for holding it in position. 1

20 \In the drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a balloon furnishedwith my lightning collectors-and conductors, the metal plate ontop ofthe balloon being shown in section; Fig. 2,

a side view of the metal plate and terminals;-

2 Fig. 3, a plan of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a plan of ring to which thenetting-and guy-ropes-are attached; Fig. 5, apla'n of ring to which themain conductors are attached, and Fig. 6 a side view of Fig. 5.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

A is the balloongvhich is constructed in the ordinary manner, and whichisinflated with any suitable gas.

B is the netting of the balloon, which is attached to a ring, 0, of somenonconducting material.

' is a metallic plate, which is placed upon the top of the balloon,andwhich is preferably 0 furnished with several projections, E, to whichthe main conductors are secured.

F are terminals riveted to plate D, the points of which are gold-plated.

G is some nonconducting material asbes- 5 tus, for instance-which isplaced between balloon A and plate D.

H are the main conductors, consisting of heavy wire, preferably cop[)81,Wl1l0h lead from the projections E on plate D to a ring of someconducting material, I.

Jisa conducting-wire, which leads from ring I to a drum,- K, aroundwhich it passes. This drum K is furnished with a crank, L, and issupported upon anaxle which is held in metal bearings M, through whichthe electricity is conducted to the ground.

N are-cables, one end of which are attached to. the non-conducting ring0, and the other ends of which are secured to cleats or rings 0 in theground. v

l? is a hygrometer,which may be carried by or suspended from-either ofthe rings 0 or I.

R are wires connecting hygrometer P with a call-bell; S. p

The balloon is placed so that it is above t1 tank or tanks tobeprotected, and is held position by four guy-ropes, N. The balloon israised until it is in adamp atmosphere, which is indicated by thehygrometer I? through the electric wires R andbell S. Any form ofhygrometer may be used. \Vhen the balloon is in a damp atmospherethebell Sdoes not ring: but should the atmospherebecome dry the bellrings,when the balloon is raised until said bel ceases to ring.

The hygrometer illustrated in the drawings consists of a cord, a, oneend of which is fastened to a pin, b, and the other end of which carriesa weight, 0, to which one of the wires Ris attached. The cord apassesover pulleys d. e is a contact-pointto which the other wire R -isattached. In a dry atmosphere the cord at stretches and acontact'between point e and weight 0 is made, causing bell S to ring. Ina damp atmosphere the contact is broken and the bell ceases to ring.

The conducting-wire J which leads from ring I, passes around drum K.When the balloon is lowered, the slack of wire J is wound upon thisdrum.

I claim- '1. Thehereindescribed device for protecting oil-tanks fromlightning, consisting of a balloon carrying lightning collectors andconductors leading to the earth, and furnished'with guy-ropes,substantially as set forth.

I BEST AVAlLABLE COP 2. The combination of balloon A, netting B, andring 0, plate D, with terminals F, non-con 1 and ring 0, plate D, withterminals -F, non-conducting substance G, conductors H, ring I, con 4 1(luetingsubstance G, conductors H, ring I, conduetor J, guy-ropes N,hygrometer P, wires R, I 5 lductor J,and guy-ropes N, substantially asand and bell S, all substantially as and for the pur- 5 -for thepurposes set forth. poses set forth.

, 3. The combination of balloon A, netting B, In testimony whereof Ial'lix my signature in and ring 0, plate D, with terminals F, non-conthepresence of two witnesses. ducting substance G, conductors H, ring I,con- I ductor J,- drum K, crank L, supports or bear- DAVID O BRIEN' i 10ings M, and guy-ropes N, substantially as set \Vitnessesz' forth. CHAS.H. KLINE, 4. Thecombi'nation of balloon A,'notting B, i JOHN OOYLE.

